NIC hoop teams visit CSI tonight

TWIN FALLS - North Idaho College's men's and women's basketball teams make the second of three trips this season to Twin Falls tonight to play the College of Southern Idaho in Scenic West Athletic Conference play.

NIC's women (23-3, 9-3 SWAC), ranked No. 17 in the NJCAA, play No. 25 CSI (20-7, 7-5) at 4:30 p.m. PST, followed by NIC's men (20-7, 5-7 SWAC) vs. No. 7 CSI (23-4, 9-3) at 6:30.

CSI's men held a half-game lead over Eastern Utah (21-5, 8-3) heading into Friday night's games. Salt Lake (21-6, 7-5) is third, Snow (16-10, 5-6) fourth, NIC fifth and Colorado Northwestern (7-18, 0-11) sixth.

NIC's women trail first-place and 10th-ranked Salt Lake (10-2, 20-4) by one game heading into Friday's play. CSI is in third, Snow (15-10, 5-7) fourth, Eastern Utah (8-16, 3-8) fifth, Colorado Northwestern (7-18, 1-10) sixth.

NIC's teams have three SWAC games left before returning to Twin Falls for the Region 18 tournament March 3-5.

NIC's women are 2-0 vs. CSI this year; NIC's men are 0-2 vs. the Golden Eagles.

Former Shock signee joins Steelers

SPOKANE - Former Spokane Shock signee Wes Lyons signed with the AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Shock have added defensive lineman Louis Holmes to the roster.

Lyons (6-foot-8, 240 pounds) originally signed with the Shock in September 2010 as a wide receiver from West Virginia, where he had 42 receptions for 517 yards in 50 games.

Holmes (6-5, 250) spent the last two seasons in the UFL with the Sacramento Mountain Lions. In eight games, Holmes recorded 12 tackles and three forced fumbles.

Before joining the Mountain Lions, Holmes played in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the San Francisco 49ers. As a member of the Bucs in 2009, Holmes recorded two sacks, six tackles, two pass deflections and one forced fumble in four preseason games.

Spokane opens training camp today, and opens the season at San Jose on March 11.